International organizations
How international organizations can support national efforts to formalize informal settlements and provide secure tenure and basic services.
Global cooperation is essential to translate policy rhetoric into on-the-ground gains for residents of informal settlements, aligning legal tenure with access to water, sanitation, housing, and opportunity in a fair, sustainable manner.
Published by
Linda Wilson
July 15, 2025 - 3 min Read
Informal settlements house millions in rapidly urbanizing regions, yet lack formal status, secure tenure, and reliable basic services. International organizations can act as conveners, technical advisors, and funding partners to harmonize national reforms with compatible local practices. They can help countries map settlements, protect tenure rights, and design legal pathways for residents to obtain titles without displacement. Essential support includes capacity building for land administration, transparent dispute resolution mechanisms, and safeguards against forced evictions. By aligning urban planning with human rights standards, these organizations enable governments to unlock financing, attract private investment responsibly, and create inclusive growth that lifts communities without erasing their identities or social networks.
A critical contribution from international bodies is knowledge sharing about successful tenure formalization models. Replicable frameworks—from simplified titling procedures to digital registries—can reduce costs and time while increasing transparency. Donor agencies can fund pilot programs that test these approaches in diverse contexts, ensuring they respect local governance structures and customary land rights. Equally important is setting performance benchmarks that measure improvements in tenure security, access to services, and resident empowerment. When international organizations document lessons learned and disseminate best practices, policymakers gain a practical toolkit for scaling reforms while maintaining accountability and stakeholder trust across municipal, regional, and national levels.
International collaboration can fund pilots that test scalable, rights-based approaches.
Beyond legal ownership, secure tenure requires enabling services that transform settlements into thriving neighborhoods. International players can support partnerships that extend water networks, sanitation facilities, electricity, and waste management to informal areas. They can assist in financing upgrades through blended funds, leveraging grants with concessional loans, and encouraging community-driven infrastructure projects. Importantly, technical assistance should prioritize resilience to climate shocks, such as floodproofing and heat mitigation. By coordinating with municipalities, utilities, and local associations, these interventions become sustainable rather than episodic. Strengthened service delivery elevates living standards, fosters social cohesion, and signals national commitment to inclusive urban development.
Equally vital is policy alignment with social protection and affordable housing objectives. International organizations can help governments integrate tenure reform with housing subsidies, rental markets, and land-use planning that protects existing residents while encouraging densification where appropriate. Cross-border collaborations enable knowledge exchange about inclusive zoning, incremental housing, and shared infrastructure. They can also support gender-responsive approaches to tenure, ensuring women-headed households and vulnerable groups gain equal access to titles and services. When policies are coherent and people-centered, formalization becomes a tool for poverty reduction rather than a bureaucratic hurdle that risks displacement or marginalization.
Rights-based approaches ensure formalization protects vulnerable groups.
Pilot projects offer real-world data on what works in diverse urban settings. International partners can fund experiments that combine participatory mapping, community land trusts, and simplified titling processes. Such pilots should include robust monitoring and independent verification to track outcomes like tenure security, service coverage, and financial inclusion. Lessons from pilots must feed into national plans, with clear roadmaps for expanding successful models. Funding agencies should insist on community consent, transparent budgeting, and local governance participation to safeguard legitimacy. When pilots succeed, they become templates for nationwide reform that respects local cultures, builds trust, and expands formal access without uprooting residents.
Financial architecture matters as much as policy design. International organizations can help design blended finance mechanisms that de-risk tenure formalization, enabling municipalities to borrow for infrastructure with predictable repayment terms. They can advise on grant-to-loan ratios, risk-sharing arrangements, and performance-based disbursement tied to service delivery milestones. Equally crucial is building capacity within national treasury systems to track investments, service provision, and compliance with human rights standards. Transparent accounting and outcome reporting attract further investment, improving accountability and ensuring that resources translate into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.
Coordinated actions integrate land, housing, and services for sustainability.
A rights-based approach places residents’ dignity at the center of reform. International organizations can champion safeguards against displacement, exploitation, and unequal access to services. They can promote participatory processes where communities co-create maps, identify priorities, and monitor implementation. Ensuring meaningful consent, grievance procedures, and accessible channels for redress strengthens legitimacy and reduces conflicts. When residents see their voices reflected in policy design and enforcement, trust grows, compliance improves, and government credibility rises. This ethos should guide every step—from land adjudication to utility hookups—so formalization becomes a shared achievement rather than a contested mandate.
Women, youth, and marginalized groups require particular attention in formalization efforts. International actors can support targeted outreach, legal clinics, and capacity-building programs that empower these communities to claim and defend their tenure rights. Programs should address intersectional barriers, such as access to credit, land certification costs, and information gaps about rights and processes. By embedding inclusive practices in every phase of reform, international organizations help ensure that formalization reduces gender and socio-economic disparities rather than amplifying them. Inclusive governance leads to stronger communities and more resilient urban futures.
Long-term strategies sustain momentum and scale successful models.
Integrating land tenure formalization with housing and service delivery creates a sustainable development loop. International organizations can facilitate cross-sector collaboration among land, housing, water, health, and education ministries to align policies and budget cycles. This coordination helps prevent policy drift, duplication, and poorly sequenced investments. A harmonized approach enables residents to access water, sanitation, electricity, and schooling alongside secure titles. It also supports urban resilience by aligning settlements with climate adaptation plans and disaster risk reduction. When multiple sectors move in concert, formalization becomes a platform for long-term improvement rather than a single, isolated reform effort.
In addition, international agencies can help establish clear timelines, milestones, and accountability mechanisms for reforms. Regular progress reviews, independent audits, and transparent reporting foster trust among communities and local governments. They can assist in developing citizen charters that spell out rights and responsibilities, minimum service standards, and redress paths. Public accountability reduces corruption risks and ensures that resources reach the people most in need. With strong governance wrappers, formalization endures beyond political cycles and continues to deliver lasting benefits.
Long-term strategies require durable institutions and continuous learning. International organizations can support governments in building enduring land administration systems, updating legal frameworks, and maintaining data-driven oversight. They should encourage the creation of independent bodies to oversee tenure registries, service rollouts, and equitable urban expansion. By fostering continuous training for civil servants and local authorities, reforms stay responsive to evolving needs, including migration dynamics and new housing technologies. Sustained partnerships with civil society and community organizations ensure reforms reflect lived realities and preserve social cohesion. The result is a resilient, inclusive urban future anchored in formalized rights and reliable services.
Finally, international support must be adaptable, context-aware, and principled. One-size-fits-all solutions rarely succeed in informal settlements; instead, flexible funding, local co-design, and phased implementation matter most. International organizations should prioritize learning exchanges, peer networks, and public-private collaboration that respects human rights and local sovereignty. As formalization expands, attention should turn to maintaining affordability, protecting tenants from price shocks, and safeguarding ecological balance. By remaining committed to these core principles, international actors help nations transform informal settlements into recognized, well-served communities with secure futures for generations to come.
